These are reportedly the first pictures of Aston Martin's DB9 replacement testing. The new model, which is due to go on sale in 2016, has been spotted at the Nürburgring.

This early mule is understood to be testing chassis and internal components, and wears lightly modified bodywork from the current DB9.

Aston Martin executives have already admitted the new car might not carry the DB9 name. Speaking to Autocar last year, Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman said: "It’ll definitely be a DB, but what number will follow that is yet to be decided.”

Reichman also hasn't ruled out simply reusing the existing name – an idea some senior Aston executives are known to be keen on.

The car is unlikely to carry the DB10 name, with that designation going to the car which will accompany James Bond on his 24th big screen adventure, Spectre. The styling of the DB10 is understood to closely preview that of the DB9 replacement.

The new DB9 will be built around an all-new bonded aluminium platform and is set to be powered by a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine designed and built by Mercedes-AMG.

AMG will not provide a bespoke version for Aston. Instead, off-the-shelf engines will be modified to sound, respond and feel like an Aston Martin engine. Spy photographers have reported a particularly loud sound coming from this early test mule.

Even if no more power is liberated, the base 503bhp tune of the new V8 is close to the 510bhp of the existing 5.9-litre V12, but it comes with 479lb ft at just 1750rpm, compared to 457lb ft at 5500rpm for the current unit.

Installed in a car claimed by an insider to be “dramatically” lighter, performance will improve. Economy and emissions figures are also set to be 20 per cent better than those of the current DB9.

The motor will be mated to Mercedes’ new nine-speed automatic transmission. In the meantime, the existing DB9 will use the old six-speed ZF unit rather than be upgraded to a new ZF eight-speed unit.

Reichman said the shape of the new car would be more than an evolution of the current model. “There’ll be a little more revolution in it,” he said. “It will be unmistakably an Aston and a DB at that, but it will look fresh and modern.”

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Oh dear! They are going to downgrade an AMG engine to "sound,respond and feel like an Aston Martin engine" sounds like a retrograde step to me,to what is arguably the worlds best high performance engine maker.
Wonder how it will perform head to head vs the new AMG-GT .

For the results of Merc tech and Aston sublime design mix.. I gotta feeling this is going to produce a GT that will be finally up there dynamically too as well as In terms of pure design and luxury!
Although I hope that Merc finally get a gearbox right.. Often they are 90% off the best boxes!

I noticed the same thing, indeed it is a glaring error. Let's hope the new DB9 doesn't arrive wearing a similarly ill thought out skin. If the new Aston isn't simply stunning to look at then why pay more for Mercedes running gear than Mercedes will charge you for it?

Although I really like the picture (apart from the wheels) I am a bit worried about the level of Merc parts and lack fo bespokeness to it. Where is the value added if all you are paying for is a pretty body shell. Unlike Clarkson I am not a fan of the drony Merc SLS style sound and hope that they manage to capture the same magic of the sound of the current V12.
As the family currently own a DB9 I feel a bit mixed about all this at the moment.

...I am a bit worried about the level of Merc parts and lack fo bespokeness to it. Where is the value added if all you are paying for is a pretty body shell.

As far as mechanical items go, I'd much rather have excellent technology, engineering, efficiency and reliability than to be bespoke. The interior and exterior designs are where Aston Martin excel. I'm not an Aston Martin fan, but, in my opinion, this deal with Mercedes-Benz is a real winner for them.